President Obama meets Welsh school children

Pupils from Mount Pleasant Primary in Newport were given the lesson of a lifetime this morning as the most powerful politician in the world visited the school. The US President's vehicle pulled up at the school gates at around 9.30am with his black stretch limousine bearing a Welsh flag for the first time in history. When a smiling Mr Obama walked into a Year 6 class speaking Welsh, the pupils' nervous chatter turned to excited smiles.

During a question-and-answer session about Nato one of the pupils asked the President what he wanted to be as a 10-year-old. He said "A basketball player." Obama and Mr Cameron were asked into the school hall to look at the youngsters' artworks. Perching at a low-level children's table, in front of a classroom display about adventurers like Neil Armstrong, they chatted with youngsters about their drawings of the summit venue, the Celtic Manor.

Deputy headteacher Andrew Rothwell said the day would be one staff and pupils would never forget. ``It's been a real pleasure to host Barack Obama and David Cameron,'' he said. ``As you can see, the children have not stopped smiling. It's given them a tremendous sense of pride."

After speaking with schoolchildren for around 40 minutes, the two leaders left in their convoys to more flag-waving and loud cheers.